Effect of long term addition of composts and poultry manure on soil quality of citrus orchards in Southern Italy

A 6-year study was conducted in an organically managed orange orchard located in Sicily (Southern Italy) to assess the effect of compost and organic fertiliser utilisation on soil quality. Adopting a randomised-block experimental design with three replicates, four treatments were carried out. In treatments 1 and 2, two different composts (C1 from distillery by-products and C2 from livestock waste) were applied. The plots of treatment 3 were fertilised using dried poultry manure. The control treatment was fertilised by mineral/synthetic fertilisers. In order to verify the hypothesis that composts and organic fertilisers improve soil fertility, soil quality was evaluated by selecting dynamic soil parameters, as indicators linked to C and N cycles. Total organic C, total N, C/N ratio, humified fraction, isoelectric focussing (IEF) of extracted organic matter, microbial biomass C, potentially mineralisable N under anaerobic conditions, potentially mineralisable C, C mineralisation quotient and metabolic quotient were determined for each sample. Moreover, the Community Level Physiological Profile (by Biolog technique) was defined, calculating derived functional biodiversity and versatility indexes. Parameters related to IEF and potentially mineralisable C showed significant differences among the treatments. Moreover, total C, total N and humification parameters tended to increase, while no differences were observed in biodiversity indexes. On these findings, it was concluded that composts and poultry manure only weakly affected soil properties, though they increased soil potentially available nutritive elements to crops.     

Historical spatial baselines in conservation and management of marine resources

Increased knowledge on the spatial distribution of marine resources is crucial for the implementation of a true ecosystem approach to management and the conservation of marine organisms. For exploited fish species characterized by aggregation behaviour during spawning time, the identification and tracking of spawning areas is essential for a correct assessment of their productivity and population abundance. To elucidate this concept, we reconstructed the spatio‐temporal distribution of adult plaice (Pleuronectes platessa, Pleuronectidae) during spawning time along the 20^th century. Historical data reveal that not only the abundance but also the former population richness was much higher than previously estimated and has declined because of protracted over‐exploitation during the last 30 years. We conclude that forecast of stock recovery to former levels of abundance neglecting spatial reorganizations might be over‐optimistic and shaded by a lost memory of the past population richness. These results reinforce the importance of managing exploited marine resources at a greater spatial resolution than has been carried out in the history of fishery management.     

无损检测桃子电特性的试验研究

利用智能ＬＣＲ测量仪和平板电极系统，用无损检测方法测定了桃子在储藏过程中电特性的变化。结果表明：在１２Ｈｚ～１００ｋＨｚ的频段内，桃子的最佳测试频段为１５ｋＨｚ以下，此时桃子随着储藏时间的增加，等效阻抗增大而相对介电常数和介质损耗因数减小；当桃子开始腐烂时，电特性数值出现了一个大的反复     

Laboratory tests for diagnosing and monitoring canine leishmaniasis

Although several reviews on canine leishmaniasis have been published, none thoroughly described clinicopathologic abnormalities and their clinical usefulness. The aim of this review was to provide information concerning current diagnostic tests relevant for clinical pathologists and from a practical perspective. Specifically, in canine leishmaniasis, nonregenerative normocytic normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia, or leukogram changes may be present. Clinical chemistry and urinalysis may indicate renal dysfunction (azotemia, decreased urine specific gravity, proteinuria) and an inflammatory/immune response (increased acute phase proteins [APP] or α₂‐ and/or γ‐globulins). Although a potential gammopathy is usually polyclonal, it may also appear oligo‐ or monoclonal, especially in dogs coinfected by other vector‐borne pathogens. When lesions are accessible to fine‐needle aspiration (lymphoadenomegaly, nodular lesions, joint swelling), cytology is strongly advised, as the presence of Leishmania amastigotes in a pattern of pyogranulomatous inflammation or lymphoplasmacytic hyperplasia is diagnostic. If the cytologic pattern is inconclusive, the parasite should be identified by histology/immunohistochemistry or PCR on surgical biopsies. Alternatively, cytology and PCR may be performed on bone marrow samples where amastigotes, along with erythroid hypoplasia, myeloid hyperplasia, plasmacytosis, or secondary dysmyelopoiesis can be observed. Dogs with overt leishmaniasis generally have high antibody titers, while low titers predominate in immunologically resistant infected dogs or in exposed dogs with no parasite confirmation. Quantitative serology is recommended in clinically suspect dogs as high‐titer antibodies titers may confirm the clinical diagnosis. In confirmed and treated dogs, renal function and inflammatory/immune response variables should be periodically monitored.     

A dynamic risk assessment model (FUMAgrain) of fumonisin synthesis by Fusarium verticillioides in maize grain in Italy

Fumonisin contamination of maize grain starts in the field. Forecasting Fusarium infection and fumonisin synthesis could allow operators in the field to control contamination during the growing season and to make the best agronomic decisions for high quality yields while respecting the limits imposed by the European Union.A research project to develop a decision support system for the control of field-phase fumonisin contamination began in Italy in 2003. This paper presents a preliminary version of the engine of the decision support tool: FUMAgrain, a dynamic risk assessment model developed with data from the north of Italy. The structure of FUMAgrain is based on the pathosystem formed by maize, F. verticillioides and Ostrinia nubilalis (European Corn Borer). The elements of the pathosystem are simulated by three sub-models: (i) maize development, (ii) F. verticillioides infection and fumonisin synthesis, (iii) European Corn Borer wounding activity on maize grain. Inputs to the model are (i) planting date, (ii) hourly meteorological data including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rain intensity, (iii) information on the phenological development of the hybrid planted (flowering and dry-down), and (iv) information about the chemical treatment against European Corn Borer. FUMAgrain gives an initial risk alert at the end of flowering based on the meteorological conditions during this phase. A second alert follows maturation when an assessment is made from (i) maize grain moisture, (ii) European Corn Borer damage to the ear, and (iii) fumonisin synthesis risk. Following calibration and validation with data FUMAgrain demonstrated its good capability to simulate fumonisin synthesis in maize grain in Italy (calibration: R² = 0.70; validation: R² = 0.71) and its usefulness for determining the optimal harvest date while respecting grain safety levels required by the international market and limiting moisture content, hence drying costs.     

Mortality outbreak by perch rhabdovirus in European perch (Perca fluviatilis) farmed in Italy: Clinical presentation and phylogenetic analysis

This work reports a mortality outbreak, occurred in 2015 and affecting juveniles of European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) farmed in Italy. Perch rhabdovirus (PRV) was detected by viral isolation and biomolecular investigations. Phylogenetic analysis clustered our isolate into genogroup B, which also includes PRV isolates from Perca fluviatilis identified in France (2004–2009); diagnostic investigations also revealed opportunistic bacteria (Aeromonas hydrophila) and parasites (Chilodonella piscicola). Since, occasionally, PRV has been reported in the natural environment, which is often a source of eggs and broodstock for farms, it could be possible that both similar France and Italian isolate were imported from a same place elsewhere and have a common origin. Improving biosecurity measures (batch control) and disinfection of egg strings with an iodine‐based solution helps prevent apparent vertical transmission of PRV.     

Towards an improved and more flexible representation of water stress in coupled photosynthesis-stomatal conductance models

Coupled photosynthesis-stomatal conductance (A-g_s) models are commonly used in ecosystem models to represent the exchange rate of CO₂ and H₂O between vegetation and the atmosphere. The ways these models account for water stress differ greatly among modelling schemes. This study provides insight into the impact of contrasting model configurations of water stress on the simulated leaf-level values of net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (g_s), the functional relationship among them and their ratio, the intrinsic water use efficiency (A/g_s), as soil dries. A simple, yet versatile, normalized soil moisture dependent function was used to account for the effects of water stress on g_s, on mesophyll conductance (g_m) and on the biochemical capacity. Model output was compared to leaf-level values obtained from the literature. The sensitivity analyses emphasized the necessity to combine both stomatal and non-stomatal limitations of A in coupled A-g_s models to accurately capture the observed functional relationships A vs. g_s and A/g_svs. g_s in response to drought. Accounting for water stress in coupled A-g_s models by imposing either stomatal or biochemical limitations of A, as commonly practiced in most ecosystem models, failed to reproduce the observed functional relationship between key leaf gas exchange attributes. A quantitative limitation analysis revealed that the general pattern of C₃ photosynthetic response to water stress may be well represented in coupled A-g_s models by imposing the highest limitation strength to g_m, then to g_s and finally to the biochemical capacity.     

Outflow tract segmental arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in an English Bulldog

A 5-year-old English Bulldog was presented for acute onset of syncope and fatigue caused by sustained ventricular tachycardia with left bundle block morphology and inferior axis. This arrhythmia had the electrocardiographic features of a ventricular tachycardia arising from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), as described in an experimental canine model and in people. Since a RVOT aneurysm was identified by echocardiography, a segmental form of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) was suspected. Gross examination of the heart confirmed the bulging of the RVOT and histological examination of the ventricular myocardium revealed segmental involvement of the RVOT with transmural fibro-fatty degeneration. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of AVRC in an English Bulldog and the first example of segmental AVRC described in the dog.     

Effect of antioxidant protection of must on volatile compounds and aroma shelf life of Falanghina (Vitis vinifera L.) wine

Two vinification methods involving different degrees of antioxidant protection of Falanghina must during prefermentative steps, and referred as HAMP (high antioxidant must protection) and LAMP (low antioxidant must protection), were compared in terms of fermentation performances of four different yeast strains, composition of the volatile fraction of wines at the end of alcoholic fermentation, and shelf life of wines during storage. The use of HAMP technology resulted in wines with lower volatile acidity and higher concentrations of medium-chain fatty acid ethyl esters, acetates, and volatile fatty acids. For two of the four strains a lower concentration of isoamyl alcohol was also observed. HAMP wines also revealed increased shelf life because of the higher concentration of odor active esters at the end of storage and better preservation of varietal aromas.     

In vitro bioavailability of phenolic compounds from five cultivars of frozen sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.)

The bioavailability of phenolic compounds from five cultivars of frozen sweet cherries was assessed by a digestion process involving pepsin-HCl digestion (to simulate gastric digestion) and pancreatin digestion with bile salts (to simulate small intestine conditions) and dialyzed to assess serum- and colon-available fractions. After pepsin digestion, the % recovery of total phenolics, relative to the original starting material, increased, whereas the % anthocyanins did not change. Following pancreatic digestion and dialysis, the total phenolics in the IN (serum-available) fraction was about 26-30% and the OUT (colon-available) fraction was about 77-101%. The anthocyanin content in the IN fraction was 15-21%, and in the OUT fraction, it was 52-67%. Skeena, Lapins, and Sweetheart cultivars contained higher levels of total phenolics and anthocyanins, which resulted in higher concentrations of these compounds in the IN and OUT fractions. The potential bioavailability of phenolic compounds was also assessed in Bing and Lapins cultivars at three ripening stages. Immature cherries had higher % total phenolics in the IN fraction than mature or overmature cherries. However, immature cherries had the lowest concentrations of these compounds, making the actual bioavailable amounts of these compounds lower than for mature and overmature fruit. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of Lapins cherries at three maturity stages confirmed the results obtained using spectrophotometric methods for total phenolics and anthocyanins.